I am in the process of starting a Sign writing business and need some help with a good catchy name for it. Something out of the box! If you can read it, I can pretty much do it. From tattoo designs to beer labels. I do it all. Any help would be very much appreciated. I have thought of names like….Corporate Graffiti…. “your sign is my signature” but I want some more ideas!!!

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Jay’s Answer:

• I Write The Signs
• Signs From Heaven
• Signs Redesigned
• Custom Signs-R-Us

I am a soon to be graduated b-school student with a specialism in marketing. I also read lot of stuff like literature and books on advertising, branding, etc.

Like pretty much any organization, creative agency have ‘non-design’ jobs too such as account, strategy, even finance and HR. I have so much declines from agencies due not having a portfolio with visuals, visuals that graduates in art academies and those from advertising and multimedia design do have. So, how does one enter the ‘creative realm’ of agencies that are in branding and digital media for instance? Would you recommend me to learn graphic design anyway, just for the sake of having a portfolio?

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Jay’s Answer: If you don’t have visuals, create them. Volunteer your skills for local non-profits. Also, create marketing pieces for companies that haven’t hired you – to show off what you could do (but make sure it’s clear they were self-initiated samples).

In Brief (a 3-minute show highlight):

Episode theme: Business owners whose companies are inspired by nature.

Jay Harman, President and CEO, has developed a number of successful companies. As founder and CEO of ERG Australia Ltd, he took the company to a highly successful IPO. ERG went on to become one of Australia’s most successful technology companies. Jay has extensive experience in technology licensing and is the author of numerous patents. His designs have won numerous design awards and his products have been featured on the international television series “Discovery.” Jay is also CEO of PAX Water Technologies and Chief Inventor of PAX Streamline.

Website: PAX Scientific
Phone: (415) 256-9900
Email: info@PAXScientific.com

Bruce Hammond, LEED AP has been a General Contractor since 1980. He is CEO of Hammond & Company, a company which builds high quality residential and commercial projects throughout the northern bay area region with particular emphasis on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and durability. Bruce was the founding Chairman of the US Green Building Council – Redwood Empire Chapter and is also a Principal at Longview Education Associates, a training and education organization delivering programs for organizations and individuals on focused topics the design and management of sustainable development.

Website: Hammond And Company
Address: 490 W. School Street, Cotati CA. 94931
Phone: (707) 795-6045

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Hi, I have been fighting the fitness battle my whole life. In high school and college I was too skinny, then I started my own business and found little time to train. I have solved both problems, going from a skinny 150 lbs to a lean and muscular 178 lbs while shortening my workouts to fit my increasingly busy schedule. I needed balance in my life, fitness gave me that and I want to share my solutions with others facing the same problems. I want to help other young business professionals win the same battles without making the same mistakes I did in the form of a free blog site.

How do I get this message across on my site?

I need an effective title and subtitle as well as an effective page layout but am struggling with both.
Here is my site, read ‘my story’ for more info. I have a boxing background which I’d like to incorporate into the site (www.chadhowsefitness.com) as well. Any ideas will help! Thanks

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Jay’s Answer: Focus on your copy first. Tell personal stories of how your body image affected your worldview and how improving your body improved your life. Ask others to share their stories.

Don’t think of trying to establish yourself as an authority figure yet. You have your own experiences, but unless you’ve helped hundreds (or thousands) of others improve their bodies and life, you can’t claim the title (and you’d rather have others hand the title to you).

As for traffic, that’s another issue entirely. Copy will keep ‘em, but you need people to read your copy. Write your articles/stories, but try to be a guest blogger in places your target audience visits. Also be clear who you’re targeting – the whole world or just the area you live in (are you trying to get clients or noticed?).

I am helping my boyfriend with his company’s business. I am looking to come up with a fun, catchy name for his blog. The blog has tips on how to take care of your car, etc. He owns an auto repair shop called Land-Tech Service Center. Any ideas?

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Jay’s Answer: How about using (part of) the story from “The Crazy Crawler Crane and Other Very Short Truck Stories”:

Yak yak! / Ouch, smack! / Bad luck / Tow truck

- or -

Auto Know Better
Love My Car

I have a footspa and waxing salon name SPA 101 with a pink feet in the middle of the words spa 101. So its Spa 101 footspa and waxing salon.

We are thinking to change the name to Pampered – Nail Spa and Waxing Salon and come with a better tagline. I feel the name spa 101 footspa and waxing salon needs to be changed because when we removed the banners we are getting male clients instead of ladies who are our core clients.

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Jay’s Answer: Are your male clients recommending your services and/or returning? If so, then maybe you’ve stumbled upon a new business opportunity and can sell to them.

If the banners were bringing in people and covering your expenses, then why not put them back and continue to get clients? You may need to focus not just on your banners, but also increasing your repeat business.

After working for 7 years in an ob/gyn medical group, I am parting ways and opening my own ob/gyn practice. When looking at the other doctors (competitors) in the area where I am planning to relocate, I have the advantage that I am a woman. Also, this area has a high Spanish speaking population and I am bilingual. The name of the practice is First name+Last name, MD, PA.

I am looking for a tag line that incorporates the practice experience already acquired, my gender, and the multicultural aspect of my background. Once the tag line is selected, I will translate it to Spanish to address my Spanish speaking patients.

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Jay’s Answer: It’s not clear if ObGyn will be part of your business title. Ideally, add it to make it obvious what your specialty is.

(ObGyn) Services For Women. By A Woman.
Woman To Woman ObGyn Services.

I am starting an auction site for shoes only (think Ebay for shoes). Iftheshoedoesntfit.com It is an unusually long name for a website but it works for my purposes. Need a tagline that grabs attention, is snappy, and makes sense even without the website name as a stem.
I have brainstormed several – but none is quite right…

Here is what I have in the order from what I like most to least to give you a sense. The first two are the ones I like best but I am concerned that some people will see the first one as “demonic” may sound silly, but I some people may feel that way. I like the second one, but it is long, and the website name is long – I am concerned about a long website and a long tagline.

• Sell your soles
• Going Once, Going Twice….SOLED!
• finding new homes for lost (unwanted) soles
• Step Into A New Pair of Shoes

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Jay’s Answer:

• We’re a Shoe-In For Best Selection
• One, Two Buckle New Shoes
• Where The Feet Have It!
• Put Your Best Shoe Forward
• …Find A Better Pair

I am currently working on a communication plan for an organic and environmentally friendly lipstick for my integrated communication marketing course. The product has to reflect glamorous, natural and eco-friendly attributes. I am asked to come up with innovative below the line communication tools. I have found a few but I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to market the product effectively and in an innovative way. The target market is women between 18 and 30 years old living in major cities as well as suburbs that respect the environment. I already use a teaser campaign via direct marketing, sponsorship of a non for profit organisation event, participation in beauty expositions, POP advertising, and giving samples away in major shopping centers. I need to come up with some other campaigns that really stand out, highlight the points of differences and are innovative. I would really appreciate your help.

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Jay’s Answer: Focus your thinking on your target market:

• What activities do they enjoy?
• What organizations are they likely to be members of?
• Where do they get their information on beauty products?

Hi Jay, I am at the very beginning of putting into action one of my ‘bright ideas’ , that being importing fabrics, trims, etc to make lampshades, table runners, and the list goes on. I also create art and craft ware for the home. All of this i want to sell, but getting started means having a great business name, this is where i have been going blank!! Because i do quite a varied amount of things i don’t want a name that will limit me to one product, as eventually i would like to import furniture also among other things. Basically, i love home products and i love being at home and working from home. I know this is a big ask, hope you can help. Elena

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Jay’s Answer: Here’s the quandary you’re in: you’re looking for a name that works for the range of offerings today AND for something that’s generic enough to work in the future.

A few ideas for you to consider:

• From Elena With Love
• The Home Import Store
• The Import Shop